International engagement commences

A United States Navy Seahawk helicopter and a United States Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey from USS Bonhomme Richard conduct landings on the flight deck of HMAS Adelaide, with HMAS Darwin in the background during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2017.

The Australian Defence Force Joint Task Group, Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2017, has completed the first international engagement activity of the deployment.

HMAS Adelaide, one of the Royal Australian Navy’s Canberra class amphibious ships, reached the milestone after recently conducting aviation training with the USS Bonhomme Richard off the east coast of Australia.

The training involved both the SH60S Seahawk helicopter and a United States Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor, with a focus on flight deck familiarisation for the United States Marine Corps aircrew and currency training for Adelaide’s aviation support sailors.

Commander of the Joint Task Group, Captain Jonathan Earley, who is also the Commanding Officer of Adelaide, said the activity highlighted the continued enhancement of interoperability between the two militaries.

“It is important that we take opportunities like these to work with our United States partners to enhance our understanding and processes for operating with this unique capability,” Captain Earley said.

“The training both for the aircrew and our flight deck teams went really well, and our crew was able to get some hands on exposure to the processes associated with landing United States assets.

“These activities have further developed the skills in Adelaide’s crew, and broadened the capability our amphibious assault ships provide.”

Running from 4 September to 26 November 2017, Indo-Pacific Endeavour will at various stages involve more than 1,200 Australian personnel, six Australian Navy ships, and a number of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

It will demonstrate the Australian Defence Force's ability to operate across the full spectrum of military operations and is focused on enhancing military cooperation with some of Australia’s key regional partners including: Brunei, Cambodia, the Federated States of Micronesia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.